Here’s a couple of links to a couple of “articles” that will be sure to get those juices flowing today:
Cuban exile insists ernesto guevara’s remaind still buried in Bolivia.
Speaking of che guevara, 6 minutes into this YouTube video, you can see his image donned by TNA “pro” wrestlers.
I can accept Cuban government officials infiltrating the UN Human Rights Council, but when they mess with baseball, that’s a whole other animal.
The epitomy of the Cuban term, cuento chino.
The International Society for Human Rights on Cuba.
If the above dont get you going today, use the comments section as an open thread for any interesting links, articles, blogposts, etc…
I didn’t see this story covered or even mentioned on any Miami-based blog. It is important because it illustrates as no other the anti-Cuban mania that engulfed this country in the immediate wake of Mariel. This poor man, who actually came to the U.S. in 1966, may have been the most egregious case of the Castro-fostered media-induced hysteria which maligned the most law-abiding community in this country, making marieritos and all Cuban exiles subject to such miscarriages of justice as this:
Posted on Thu, Mar. 22, 2007
Cuban Exile Jailed for 26 Years Sues Miami Police for Wrongful Rape Conviction
By Laura Wides-Munoz
Associated Press
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A man who spent 26 years in prison for rapes he didn’t commit sued Miami-Dade County and police Wednesday, accusing them of falsifying records and other illegal actions.
Luis Diaz Martinez, 69, was released in March 2005 after DNA evidence excluded him as the attacker in two rapes and cast doubt on his conviction in all five cases. Earlier, victims had recanted their testimony in two other convictions.
“They railroaded this man and took 26 years of his life. They took away from him any chance of having a family, any chance for a career, and any chance he had at happiness,” said his attorney, Marvin Kurzban. “We are here to right that wrong.”
County officials did not immediately return messages Wednesday. Police spokesman Carlos Maura said the department had yet to see the lawsuit and could not comment. Maura said he was not aware of any investigation to find the true rapist.
Diaz, who fled Cuba in 1966, was serving a life sentence when lawyers for the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that pushes for DNA exoneration, took his case.
A frail Diaz trembled as he spoke Wednesday of his years in prison.
“They took away my liberty, but always in my heart and in my mind, I always knew that I was innocent,” he said.
The lawsuit, filed in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County, accuses police officers of false arrest, fabricating evidence and pressuring witnesses to identify Diaz as their attacker.
Diaz was convicted of assaults that occurred between 1977 and 1979 south of downtown Miami.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/16951793.htm
Below is a short piece that appeared on CNN yesterday.
(CNN) — A leading Zimbabwean cleric said on Thursday he was ready to face bullets in the street amid international condemnation of Robert Mugabe’s regime and fears of a renewed wave of repression.
Pius Ncube, the Roman Catholic archbishop of the southern Bulawayo diocese, urged Zimbabweans to take to the streets in protest at the government’s ongoing crackdown against dissenters opposed to the government, Reuters reported.
“The biggest problem with Zimbabweans is they are cowards, myself included, but as for me I am ready to stand in front, even of blazing guns,” Ncube told a news conference. [end of article]
After reading this, the one question that comes to mind is “where are Cuba’s religious leaders?
LE SUMBA EL MANGO
Susan MacDade, coordinadora residente del Sistema de la ONU y representante residente del Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo, anunció que nuestro paÃs se encuentra a la par de regiones del Primer Mundo en cuanto a la calidad de vida y educación de su población y reconoció liderazgo de la Isla en el debate mundial del agua como derecho básico y universal
There’s an article on Reuters on Havana.
“Havana’s former grandeur decays and crumbles”
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=inDepthNews&storyID=2007-03-23T123943Z_01_N20346167_RTRUKOC_0_US-CUBA-HAVANA.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage3
I wish you well 🙂 Melek
“Communism possesses a language which every people can understand–its elements are hunger, envy, and death.” ~ Heinrich Heine
“The biggest problem with Zimbabweans is they are cowards, myself included, but as for me I am ready to stand in front, even of blazing guns,” Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube condemning the regime of Robert Mugabe at a news conference
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
The Archbishop of Havana is too busy condemning the embargo at a press conference.
El cardenal Ortega is even busier con el negron Perucho . El que lo engrasa diariamente
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
His Eminence is in conference with his altar boys at the episcopal palace.
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
Calling Jaime Cardinal Ortega…
The Cardinal is too busy leading prayers for Castro’s recovery.
The pro wrestlers that are featured in the video are the Latin American Exchange, ,also known as LAX. In their entrance video they also feature Fidel Castro. One wrestler represents Mexico, one Puerto Rico, and one Cuba. The one who represents Cuba is Konnan, also known as the Hispanic Hulk Hogan. Some people attribute the Latin invasion of the wrestling world to him. He is said to be the best Hispanic wrestler ever, trained by Eddy Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, Sr. He is really good friends with Rey Mysterio, Jr. Konnan was born in Santiago de Cuba and lived in exile in Miami. He got involved with drugs and gangs but eventually graduated from Miami Southwest Senior High. He got involved in more criminal activities and was forced to move to California. There he became a body builder and was discovered by a Mexican wrestling talent scout and began to wrestle in Mexico. Eventually he made his way to the states. Considering this, I think that the whole Castro, Che thing being idolized in the entrance video of these wrestlers is part of what the wrestling world calls kayfabe (pig Latin for fake), which is role-playing. But I am not sure if I can excuse him because he is basically one of us (Miami Cuban American)- I mean he probably shares most of the same experiences we have. Honestly, I think he is just doing this to make money.
As for the article on Mozart Meets Cuba, it fails to mention the most remarkable connection between the great musical genius and Cuba. The music of Cuba’s National Anthem is adapted from Mozart’s aria “Non più andrai,” which he used in both The Marriage of Figaro and then “recycled” in Don Giovanni. I made this discovery while listening to the former on PBS. Suddenly and very unexpectedly the stirring notes of the Cuba’s National Anthem erupted in the middle of Mozart’s opera. I knew instantly what this meant. “Perucho” Figueredo had balls of steel because he not only borrowed Mozart’s air but even changed it in parts and his revised anthem was better than the original!
Here is a midi of Mozart’s Non più andrai. Just look for the title of the aria among the selections and click:
http://www.publiweb.it/midi/n/non_lo_faccio_piu.html
This midi of Mozart’s Non più andrai, the basis for the Cuban National Anthem, is easier to find since it is the first selection on the list:
http://users.pandora.be/familie.jaspers/midi.html
And since I’m here anyway, I might as well insert The Exile’s Song from Verdi’s opera Nabucco. It captures as no other song the heartbreak of exile from your native land.
Click Verdi: Nabucco from the list. It will play just “The Exile’s Song.”
http://www.saturn-soft.net/Music/Music1/MIDI/Classic/Menu.htm
Manuel,
I’m so glad you brought this up. Years ago I went to see the movie Amadeus and heard that piece in the movie which sounded just like Cuban Anthem and was very surprised. But I forgot and never bothered to look into it.
Thanks for the info.
In case you missed it, ESPN has an easy register so you can comments on the WBC story.